Post by ptglass on Oct 23, 2008 11:15:54 GMT -5

I visited my local Kymco dealer to take a look at the new Super8 model that is made in China at a Kymco factory there. I was surprised at the quality! The whole scoot just exuded quality and I couldn't tell any difference in it and the ones made in Taiwan. The fit and finish of the panels was absolutely perfect and the plastic was thicker. I went over every part of it and could find nothing that would suggest a quality issue. The scoot sells for $2300 and is backed up with the Kymco warranty.

I would suggest that anyone in the market for a scoot should take a look at the Super 8! BTW, the red and black one was the sharpest in my opinion.

Post by honkerman on Oct 23, 2008 20:39:01 GMT -5

For that kind of money and has a rear DRUM brake! I love my front/rear disc brakes though and cost 1/2 price of that.

Anhoa

You may have gotten front and rear disc brakes, but can you guarantee the quality? Kymco costs more but then, they have a reputation for quality and reliability. They also have a good dealer network where you can get them serviced if necessary.

Chinese scoots may be cheap, and you may seem to get more for your money at first blush, but the quality is hit or miss. For many of us, the cost difference between a reliable brand with a good reputation and a possibly unreliable brand with spotty reviews is worth the extra initial investment. If you know what you're doing and have the ability to do your own repairs should something break down, a chinese scoot might be an ok choice, but for someone like me with only moderate mechanical skills, the extra cost of a brand known for its reliability is justified.

I've had folks laugh at me for paying more for a scoot, then I've had opportunity to chuckle at them as they sit on the side of the road scratching their heads wondering why their cheap scoot broke down.

Post by scosgt on Oct 23, 2008 20:58:42 GMT -5

I have a Benelli M50, which is Chinese but NOT cheap. It is a clone of the Scarabeo 50So far 1400 miles, one flat tire, one water in gas breakdown. Bought from dealer with warranty.The new Scarabeo 200 is built in Mainland China. I think there are different levels of quality (and price) from China. Mine is not as well made as Sym, but it is pretty good.

Post by Kaos on Oct 23, 2008 21:42:28 GMT -5

My 2008 Chuanl Longbo Adventure 150 was supposed to have rear disk but came with a drum, I was pissed but I had already talked them down by 95$ so i couldnt leave negative feedback. My next one will have rear disk for sure, the rear drum is pretty worthless.

Post by ptglass on Oct 23, 2008 22:24:41 GMT -5

Those of you that are upset that this scoot has a rear drum brake should realize that most of the stopping power of a 2 wheeled vehicle (scoot/motorcycle) is performed by the front brake - probably as much as 70%. This is because of the transfer of weight to the front wheel when stopping. The down pressure on the front wheel from the weight shift is great so if the pavement is dry and there is no gravel, you can really brake hard without the tire breaking loose. On the other hand, the rear of the bike lifts up and there is less grip back there. The rear brake is far less important than the front brake. More cyclists get hurt because they lock up the rear brake, losing gyroscopic motion, fishtailing, losing control and falling down. A rear drum brake makes this possibility less likely because it is harder to lock up.

Post by honkerman on Oct 23, 2008 22:29:46 GMT -5

Those of you that are upset that this scoot has a rear drum brake should realize that most of the stopping power of a 2 wheeled vehicle (scoot/motorcycle) is performed by the front brake - probably as much as 70%. This is because of the transfer of weight to the front wheel when stopping. The down pressure on the front wheel from the weight shift is great so if the pavement is dry and there is no gravel, you can really brake hard without the tire breaking loose. On the other hand, the rear of the bike lifts up and there is less grip back there. The rear brake is far less important than the front brake. More cyclists get hurt because they lock up the rear brake, losing gyroscopic motion, fishtailing, losing control and falling down. A rear drum brake makes this possibility less likely because it is harder to lock up.

Post by Brand-X on Oct 24, 2008 3:34:55 GMT -5

all the big four had rear drums on their highperformance bikes for a long time that worked just fine. I had a Kawasaki Z! '74 model that was the biggest bike available at the time and was the record breaking race bike...rear drum

Post by anhoa on Oct 24, 2008 8:50:01 GMT -5

I don't know about you guys but I use 90% of rear disc brake all the times. The stupid fake ABS on the front brake makes the handle bar lurching forth and back when I squeeze the lever so I just use the rear brake and it worked for me. Oh..I rather buy 2 Chinese so if one breaks down, I have still another to go. ;D How long do you want to keep the scooter anyway?..I guess getting a new one every 3 years so you can enjoy new models at an affordable price. BTW, I got lockup many times with my Sundiro 50cc (it has both drum brakes) rear drum brake due to stupid cable that got stuck/jammed.

Post by honkerman on Oct 24, 2008 15:14:59 GMT -5

I don't know about you guys but I use 90% of rear disc brake all the times. The stupid fake ABS on the front brake makes the handle bar lurching forth and back when I squeeze the lever so I just use the rear brake and it worked for me. Oh..I rather buy 2 Chinese so if one breaks down, I have still another to go. ;D How long do you want to keep the scooter anyway?..I guess getting a new one every 3 years so you can enjoy new models at an affordable price. BTW, I got lockup many times with my Sundiro 50cc (it has both drum brakes) rear drum brake due to stupid cable that got stuck/jammed.

Anhoa

38xx miles and counting... ;D

Probably just a difference in opinion and personality .

I buy things and run them until they die when I can. The only reason I did not do so with my 50cc Yamaha Vino was that I needed something faster, and the 150cc Kymco People fit the bill. I've never been one to buy another vehicle as soon as the last one is no longer exciting. I like to get as much as I can out of anything I purchase so I always look for the most bang for the buck. If I can get 100,000 miles out of my Kymco, I'm going to do so. From what I've heard and read, they are capable of going that far and more with proper maintenance.

I've not heard of many chinese scoots making it past 5,000 miles, and I've not heard of any to make it past 10,000. I may just be uninformed, but I'm just quoting my experience.

If the Chinese scoot thing works for ya, great! I'm happy for you. It just seemed like you were belittling another person over their choice to look for quality over price.

Post by anhoa on Oct 24, 2008 15:35:54 GMT -5

honkerman,

If you really want to go faster, you could get a 250cc with less than 2300$ and have extra for parts/insurance/register/inspection combine. If you really take care of the scooter, you could go over 10,000 miles. My Sundiro 50cc 2 stroke got me over 10,000 miles over a year (yes..miles not chinomiles) then crashed into a Toyota Avalon. 1986 Honda shadow got me over 15,000 miles and the current Viva is at 38xx miles. All I'm saying is for that price you can get more than a drum brake. ;D

Post by dorado29 on Oct 24, 2008 17:33:58 GMT -5

For that kind of money and has a rear DRUM brake! I love my front/rear disc brakes though and cost 1/2 price of that.

Anhoa

um what?

my Taiwan Golden Bee Laser has a rear drum brake and works perfectly (read: i can lock the rear wheel up when cruising) why would you need more stopping power than that? however, i would be concerned if the front brake was anything but disc...

Post by spacecowboy on Oct 25, 2008 2:47:27 GMT -5

Mmm...Kymco seems to be pretty good stuff according to all accounts. I've got a People 150 (Love the big wheels) and she goes just fine.

The points about the rear drum brake are quite valid. The previous owner of my bike dumped it turning left in an intersection when his mom was riding on the back due to locking the rear brake. My only fall so far was at an intersection when I failed to use the rear brake as well as the front. The front locked and over I went. Whump. Scoot was fine, so was I, but the lesson is clear.

On a quality motorcycle, the brakes are intended to work as a team to provide you with the maximum amount of control and stopping power. It is up to you, the rider, to know your machine and how to use it to provide a safe riding experience.

Post by Guest on Mar 1, 2012 18:52:35 GMT -5

It's what you can't see that counts ,,,The Chinese have ways of taking a rubber hose and making it out of crap that dissolves in no time .Also they can do the best job ever of converting a steel or stainless steel into weaker metals that can't withstand heat or stress....Want to buy my made in China Super 8?

Post by loganhes on Mar 1, 2012 19:20:04 GMT -5

All I can say is that my 2011 Kymco 150cc Super 8 is awesome!!! The quality of every component is better than your average Chinese made scooter. When I bought it from the dealer it already came with the better quality hoses. And the carb is a name brand.

Post by inuyasha on Mar 1, 2012 19:25:20 GMT -5

All I can say is that my 2011 Kymco 150cc Super 8 is awesome!!! The quality of every component is better than your average Chinese made scooter. When I bought it from the dealer it already came with the better quality hoses. And the carb is a name brand.

HiYou cant go by the info in this threadThe postings are very old for the most partIf you look closely at this, most of this thread is many years old, 2008 to be exact, which was a bad year quality wise for scootsScoots of all names and brands have much better quality now in the present, 2012Take care and drive safely dear friendYours Hank

Post by larrym on Mar 2, 2012 0:10:23 GMT -5

my 2009 super 8 is still running great no problems with hoses , i had 1 bad wire after purchase which was replaced free under a real warranty , 2 tune ups and a few oil changes ,,, after the wire no down time in 3 years u hear that anhoa , no need for two

Post by dudley on Mar 2, 2012 6:32:18 GMT -5

Love my 2010, and not much more expensive than a Chinese 150 from a b&m shop.Ok, 800.00 may seem like alot but for the peace of mind, well worth it.Might be a different story for the mechanically gifted, but that ain't me.

Post by warriorboxerdog on Mar 2, 2012 8:45:22 GMT -5

I own the super 8 2t. And it is one tuf bike. I agree with other s who posted the front brake is most of your stopping power. I have not has any issues stopping with the rear drum brakes. To ne the only thing that makes drum breaks more appealing is the are easier to swap out pads. So far I have a little over 1200 mi and have not had a single issue. My bike handles better then any other 50cc due to the 14" wheels. The cheaaper scooter could not hold a candle too kymco's quality. In my opinion kymco is almost as good a the yamaha. honda, and other top brand scooters. Kymco also has great support here in the states unlike most chinese brands. I'm not trying to put down other peoples scooters or say anything else is junk. I'm just saying if you have the extra cash to spend buying a kymco is weel worth the money!

Post by dyoung1167 on Mar 2, 2012 11:30:18 GMT -5

while some of the kymco's are made in chinese factories, they are owned and operated by kymco, not farmed out to whoever will make them one, so i believe the quality is still there. if not, they would have very quickly lost the superb reputation they have. kymco also makes the engine in bmw's dirt bike. i just wish i could afford one.

Post by tjupille on Mar 2, 2012 20:06:15 GMT -5

I've found the Super 89 150's to be excellent bikes. Got a 2009 new for my wife; now at 5500 miles, and last year bought a 2009 used to have as a backup bike (I ride a Royal Enfield Bullet 500). That one had about 2500 miles when we got it; now at about 4500 miles.

The bikes are quick enough off the line and fast enough to handle 2-lane back roads at 50 mph with some reserve).

Problems have been minor:- speedo drive puck wore out on both. About a 25 buck part from Kymcoparts direct and and easy 15 minute install.- the clear plastic covers on the instrument cluster got white haze on the inside. Polishing compound cleans it up nicely, but it's about an hour to get at, polish, and button things back up.- starter switch contact got corroded inside on the backup bike. A quick fix with a points file (I suspect that occurred because the PO left it out in the San Francisco fog and rain).

That's *it* for problems over an aggregate of 3 years and 7000+ miles.

Post by warriorboxerdog on Mar 3, 2012 12:38:29 GMT -5

I agree with you a 100% blue! When I went to my local cycle dealer I had my mind set on buying a yamaha zuma. The salesmen talked me out of it and pointed me toward the kymco's. He said they cost less, have a better warranty, and just as good quality. He saved me 500.00 bucks and I love my super 8 50cc 2t. I have almost 1300 mi and not a single problem. The thing is Kymco has company reps here in the U.S. they aren't owned by china. I looked at some chinese scooters just this week and the quality just isn't there. I was looking to get a 150. I notice the plastics are not as heavy duty, one had pegs for the passenger that if I stood on would snap off. If a chinese scooter is all you can afford or all you want to spend thats cool. I'm not knocking them. But you do get more when you put out the extra cash to get a kymco or other high quality scooter. I don't beleive getting more for less is the case when you buy a chinese scooter.

Post by inuyasha on Mar 3, 2012 13:34:06 GMT -5

I agree with you a 100% blue! When I went to my local cycle dealer I had my mind set on buying a yamaha zuma. The salesmen talked me out of it and pointed me toward the kymco's. He said they cost less, have a better warranty, and just as good quality. He saved me 500.00 bucks and I love my super 8 50cc 2t. I have almost 1300 mi and not a single problem. The thing is Kymco has company reps here in the U.S. they aren't owned by china. I looked at some chinese scooters just this week and the quality just isn't there. I was looking to get a 150. I notice the plastics are not as heavy duty, one had pegs for the passenger that if I stood on would snap off. If a chinese scooter is all you can afford or all you want to spend thats cool. I'm not knocking them. But you do get more when you put out the extra cash to get a kymco or other high quality scooter. I don't beleive getting more for less is the case when you buy a chinese scooter.

Hi Not all Chinese scoots are created equal, some are very good nowadays My Puma Angel was of the highest quality and her performance was stellarwww.pumacycles.com/They cost more then a typical Chinese drop shipped scoot, mine was $1,349 for a 50 cc out the door but having a B&M dedicated dealership, good warranty and such high quality she was well worth the costTake care drive safely dear friendYours Hank

Shoutbox

wereed: or respond to a thread I started three years ago...Jun 1, 2013 10:56:07 GMT -5

marklorenzi: I just bought one of the Fleetwoods. They look like a clone of the Honda XRM's they sell overseas. It is in transit now and I should get it this week. I will try to post my experience here. Call me the guinea pig hahaha.Jun 2, 2013 20:29:11 GMT -5

flyangler: wereed, this forum is read only the new forum is on the banner above. Dan Jun 5, 2013 7:35:29 GMT -5